Yolande Havenga (Stewart). Born 6 April 1975. Grew up on a farm in the Klein Karoo. Resided near Mossel Bay for 15 years, relocated back to the family farm in Uniondale with my animals: horses, ponies, cattle and other pets. I am the owner of a private horse sanctuary/rescue and Perdeskool where I teach horse riding, train horses, run a livery yard, etc.Started painting in 1997, completed a distance learning College Diploma, which taught me the basics of art(2001). Thereafter self-taught. Completed a BA Health Sciences and Social Services in 2004 with Psychology and Criminology as my major subjects. I sometimes do volunteer work, consultations on crime prevention, psychological counselling, etc. Currently studying Art History 3rd year (UNISA). My paintings are a reflection of my everyday life, my reality, I like to paint genre paintings (everyday life scenes). I paint people (portraits), animals (pet portraits) and wildlife, objects and places I know and care for. My paintings are sometimes influenced by books that I have read or issues that are on my mind. My paintings, especially my still lifes usually tell a story,or, like the 17th century Dutch paintings I try to use objects as symbols to teach a moral lesson, for example, my painting of Bacchus and Bottled confinement, warning against the danger of alcoholism. My history paintings are also filled with a lot of emotion, stories, etc, although only appealing to a small audience. I do commissions for clients, which include pet portraits, family portraits, landscapes, still lifes etcSome of my interests and hobbies:BeadworkMusic (listening and playing piano)HorseridingArt and paintingHistoryCriminologyPsychologyAnimal HealthHerbsMetaphysicsMythologyetcMember of Southern Cape Association for the Visual Arts (SCAVA)